Times Higher Education University of the Year shortlist places Ulster University among the top institutions in the UK and Ireland 

Ulster University has been shortlisted for University of the Year by Times Higher Education, placing it among the top higher education institutions in the UK and Ireland.  

Known as the Oscars of the UK university sector, the Times Higher Education annual awards celebrate the best of higher education in the UK and Ireland, with the University of the Year award 2024 honouring exceptional university performance during the 2022-23 academic year. 

Derry~Londonderry: Amongst the significant achievements in that academic year, the multi-million-pound Shared Island investment in a new teaching and student services building in Derry~Londonderry is set to expand an already thriving hub for health sciences and practice in the North West. Home to the first Paramedic Science course in Northern Ireland and preparing to graduate the first cohort of doctors from the Graduate Entry School of Medicine next year, Ulster University’s Derry~Londonderry campus now provides the most comprehensive higher education healthcare offering in the UK and Ireland.  

Belfast: Also in this period, the University marked the completion of its state-of-the-art new Belfast city centre campus, recently named Building of the Year by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects. A beacon of aspiration and an engine of innovation, the campus is transforming learning and teaching experiences while making a significant economic impact in the immediate area, across the city, and the wider region.  

Coleraine: With a unique multi-campus model, Ulster University is also delivering on its ambition for an innovative drug discovery centre in Coleraine, which will complement the existing Biomedical Science and Pharmacology offering. An expansive, semi-rural facility based on the north coast, the Coleraine campus is home to new programmes such as Adventure Sports and Golf Management alongside Arts, Humanities and Education. 

2023: a momentous year for NI and for Ulster University  

In the year of the 25^th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement the institution launched a one-of-its kind leadership programme, 25@25 which helped 25 graduates develop their full leadership potential. Ulster University’s vital role in Northern Ireland’s journey from peace to prosperity over the last 25 years was acknowledged by the President of the United States of America when he selected the University as his only visit to the UK in April 2023 to mark the milestone. 

Alongside the achievements of 2022/23, the institution continued to operate with the student experience at its heart, achieving its highest rank in the history of UK domestic tables. 

Ulster University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted by Times Higher Education for University of the Year – it is excellent recognition for the University and reflects the hard work of our staff and the support of our student community across our campuses. 

“I truly believe that Ulster University is an extraordinary organisation in every sense of the word, and in recent years we really began to realise our full potential. We are a University of and for the world, attracting the attention of presidents, politicians and changemakers. 

“Ulster University is a research-led, people centric, community-focused and values driven institution that believes in equality, celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion. In Northern Ireland, we are uniquely positioned to drive forward economic prosperity and growth as a multi-campus University that creates opportunities and improves the quality of lives across the whole of our shared region.  

“Our People, Place and Partnership strategy capitalises on that and emphasises our dual focus on research and teaching while driving social mobility. We demonstrate the belief that though we inherit our past, we chose our future, and it is our mission to ensure that all of our students have all the skills they need to make a difference in the world.” 

Publishing the Times Higher Education University of the Year shortlist 2024, THE Editor John Gill said: “This year’s THE Awards mark the 20th anniversary of the event, which over the last two decades has celebrated the wonderful achievements of a sector that has undergone extraordinary transformation without ever losing sight of the vital role it plays across the UK and Ireland. 

“In 2024 it’s fair to say that higher education is going through a challenging period, but these awards are a constant reminder that we should never underestimate the dedication and drive of those who work in our universities to transforming lives for the better. Enthusiasm for these awards as a way to celebrate those achievements remains undimmed, with more entries in our 20th year than ever before. 

“Our sincere congratulations to all those shortlisted in such a competitive year – it really is an achievement to have reached this stage, and we very much look forward to celebrating with you all at our 20th birthday party in Birmingham on 28 November.”  

Ulster University was previously shortlisted for University of the Year in 2021 by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. In June 2024, the University was recognised as the highest-ranking UK university for outreach activities, and fifth in the world overall, in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024.